Description
A former Glasgow Clyde College student who admitted possessing over 2,600 child abuse images—claiming he was the victim of a "cyber attack by a hostile nation"—was sentenced after spending two years on remand.
Jack Marshall, 32, avoided further punishment after police found the material at his Symington home in December 2022, including images of a child aged eight being sexually abused by a man dressed as a clown.
The content depicted children aged 4 to 12, with 1,499 category A images (the most severe), 413 category B, and 699 category C.
Marshall pleaded guilty at Ayr Sheriff Court, where he had appeared over 30 times and gone through several solicitors. He previously ranted in the dock that he was "the victim of a crime," alleging a "cyber attack" from a hostile nation.
The court heard he echoed The Who guitarist Pete Townshend's defense; Townshend was placed on the sex offenders register in 2003 after admitting to accessing a child abuse website for "research" to "write a book."
Returning for sentencing, Marshall told the Advertiser "it was a cyber attack," claiming he was "a journalist" with a "movie deal." His social work reports were described as "not good."
A Crown prosecutor explained that police searched Marshall's home after receiving information about a device linked to child exploitation images. Devices seized included a mobile phone, laptop, and USB stick from his bedroom.
"Indecent images were found on the USB stick, and the accused was arrested and conveyed to Kilmarnock police office," the fiscal depute said. "He stated it belonged to him and he was then cautioned and charged."
Across the devices, over 2,600 still and moving images were recovered. A keyword search revealed queries for "lolita," a child sexual abuse term.
Graphic descriptions of the images were read in court but deemed too horrific for publication.
Marshall's solicitor said his client did not wish to hear the descriptions ahead of the plea, adding: "It is his position that there is no underlying deviancy. He was brought to this area in the same way that a celebrated rockstar [Townshend] was once brought in."
Sheriff Mhari Mactaggart acknowledged awareness of that case.
The solicitor continued: "This case has brought great stress. He wishes to apologise, not limited to all members of the court service when he has appeared, but to me for his occasional brisk manner."
Marshall later returned to court for posting lists of Russian names to Symington neighbors.
Sheriff Mactaggart sentenced him to 12 months of supervision and placement on the sex offenders register for the same period. He was admonished on the other charge.
Marshall muttered "ridiculous" as he left the dock a free man.
Previously, one solicitor, Mark Dunbar, told the court it was his "estimation" that Marshall was "seriously psychologically unwell." Another mentioned claims he was "in the CIA," which Marshall denied to the Advertiser.
The Crown was ready for trial on December 16 last year after another solicitor withdrew.
Marshall said: "On February 23, 2023, I informed Police Scotland I had been the victim of a crime, a cyber attack by a hostile nation."
Complaining in court—"you just chucked my lawyer out"—Sheriff Desmond Leslie clarified: "I've not, she left."
Marshall added: "I've not been provided defence evidence for my trial date, I am utterly appalled by the behaviour of the courts."
Sheriff Leslie noted: "You have been in custody almost two years."
Marshall claimed: "I'm an investigative journalist as well - I studied at Glasgow Clyde College."